The El Raval district is located in Ciutat Vella (the old city) in Barcelona, Spain. It is bordered by the Gothic, Sant Antoni and Poble Sec districts. It is bounded on the east by La Rambla, on the north by Pelai street, on the west: the ronda de Sant Pau and on the south: the avenue del Paral-lel, which marks the border with the Poble Sec neighborhood.
The different options to get to El Raval by public transport:
Métro: You can take the metro lines L2 or L3 to the Paral-lel station. From there you can walk to El Raval.
Bus: Buses 20, 36, 57, 64, 91 and 120 also serve the El Raval neighborhood. You can take one of these buses and get off at the stop closest to your destination.
Hop-on hop-off Bus: The red line takes you to Plaça de Catalunya, the World Trade Center or the foot of the Columbus Column. The closest stop to the Raval with the blue line is Plaça de Catalunya.
Map of El Raval
El Raval (the former Barrio Chino) is a neighborhood that has been almost completely transformed. It used to be a den of artists, intellectuals, transvestites and prostitutes. There is still an air of bohemia, but modernity has taken hold. Today, the Raval district is home to a very large contemporary art museum, art galleries, boutiques and trendy restaurants.
Our advice: Ideally located in the center of Barcelona, El Raval has many hotels:
In the Middle Ages, El Raval was a neighborhood located outside the city walls of Barcelona. It was populated mainly by artisans and workers. During this period, the neighborhood grew rapidly with the arrival of new residents from the surrounding rural areas.
In the 18th century, the neighborhood began to deteriorate due to the increasing poverty of its inhabitants. However, at the beginning of the 19th century, the construction of the Rambla brought a new economic impetus to El Raval, with the installation of many shops and leisure establishments.
In the twentieth century, the neighborhood of El Raval experienced a strong growth in population due to immigration. However, the neighborhood was also affected by poverty, crime and prostitution. In recent decades, the city of Barcelona has carried out a series of urban renewal projects aimed at revitalizing El Raval. These projects have included the construction of new buildings, the restoration of historic buildings and the creation of public spaces.
Today, El Raval is a lively and cosmopolitan area of Barcelona that is appreciated by locals and visitors alike for its cultural activities and good atmosphere. It is considered one of the most multicultural neighborhoods in the Catalan capital.
El Raval formerly Barrio Chino
El Raval, formerly known as Barrio Chino, was commonly referred to as the "Chinese Quarter" in the 1920s until the 1980s. This name had nothing to do with the presence of the Chinese community, which was then very limited in Catalonia. In reality, the neighborhood was designated this way because of the presence of numerous establishments for prostitution, gambling, drugs, and organized crime.
The neighborhood was then considered a dangerous and notorious place. In the 1980s, the term "Barrio Chino" became pejorative and began to be replaced by the name "El Raval" at the same time as a long series of urban changes transformed its appearance.
The Bohemian Period of El Raval
The El Raval neighborhood has had several literary and bohemian periods throughout its history. One of the most famous is that of the early twentieth century, known as the "renaixença." The most well-known writers of this time include Jacint Verdaguer, Mercè Rodoreda, and Josep Pla. In the 1960s and 1970s, El Raval became a hub of counterculture and bohemianism. The neighborhood was then inhabited by many artists, musicians, and writers, including poet Joan Brossa, musician and composer Carles Santos, and writers Manuel Vázquez Montalbán, Terenci Moix, and filmmaker Joaquim Jordà i Català.
More recently, El Raval has become a center for contemporary and alternative arts, housing numerous museums, art galleries, and exhibition spaces, as well as art and music festivals throughout the year.
Some Ideas for Visiting the El Raval Neighborhood
More places to discover:
>>Take advantage of our good addresses such as restaurantsand shops.
Built in 1888 by Antoni Gaudí, the Guell Palace, or "Palau Güell" in Catalan, was commissioned by the Güells, wealthy industrialists who, as we know, were Gaudí's patrons throughout his life, notably with the commission for the famous Park Güell. It is located in the Raval district of Barcelona, Spain, and was built between 1886 and 1890. The Güell Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The story of Güell Palace began when Eusebi Güell, a wealthy industrialist and patron of Gaudí, asked him to design a residence for his family. Güell had great admiration for Gaudí and gave him a great deal of creative freedom to design the building. The Güell Palace was one of the first major collaborations between Güell and Gaudí, marking the beginning of a long and fruitful professional relationship.
The architecture of the Güell Palace is characteristic of the style of Gaudí, who is often regarded as the father of Catalan modernism. The building is notable for its extravagant decorative elements, organic shapes, colourful ceramic tiles and artistically designed wrought-iron elements. One of the most emblematic features of the palace is the façade, adorned with intricate wrought-iron railings and fanciful chimneys that resemble medieval soldiers' helmets.
The Güell Palace in video tour:
What can you see inside Güell Palace?
The interior of Güell Palace is equally impressive, with richly decorated salons, elaborate vaulted ceilings and innovative use of natural light and space. Gaudí created a multi-purpose space for Güell, including living areas, reception areas and even a music room with exceptional acoustics.
Güell Palace was also designed with innovative features for the time, such as ramps for riding horses to the top of the building, where the stables were located. This design allowed Güell direct access to the chapel at the top of the building without having to leave his horse.
Unfortunately, Güell Palace was not widely used as a family residence, and was converted into a reception venue for social events. However, it remains an outstanding example of Gaudí's architecture and a popular tourist attraction in Barcelona.
In 1984, the Güell Palace was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in recognition of its outstanding architectural importance. Today, it is one of a series of major works designed by Gaudí in Barcelona, alongside the Sagrada Família, Parc Güell and Casa Batlló, which attract millions of visitors from all over the world every year.
When to visit Güell Palace?
Güell Palace has been open to the public for several decades. It was first opened as a tourist attraction in the 1960s. Since then, it has welcomed visitors from all over the world who wish to admire Antoni Gaudí's exceptional architecture and learn more about the history of the building and its owner, Eusebi Güell.
The restoration and preservation of Güell Palace has been undertaken over the years to ensure its beauty and architectural integrity. Visitors can explore the interior of the building, including the richly decorated rooms, its chapel and sublime terrace, as well as the magnificent exterior façade with its unique architectural details.
Our tip: Visit for the interior as much as for its magnificent façade. Güell Palace is a stone's throw from the Rambla Barcelona. The palace is less busy from 10 to 11 am and after 6 pm.
What types of ticket are available to visit Güell Palace?
We offer two types of ticket to visit the Güell Palace:
> A skip the line ticket with audio guide in English, Basque, Catalan, Chinese, French, German, Galician, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. This ticket includes access to all the areas of the building that can be visited, including the roof.
>> A guided tour with access to all the areas of the building that can be visited, including the roof.
Be sure to choose a local guide who speaks your language on Saturdays or Sundays only:
Saturday :
10:30 am - English
12.00 pm - Spanish
16:00 - Catalan Sunday :
10.30am - French
12pm - Catalan 4pm - Spanish
Good to know: Güell Palace is open free of charge every 1st Sunday of the month all year round.
Address :
C. Nou de la Rambla, 3-5 Opening hours :
Closed Mondays - Summer opening times 1 April to 30 September, 10am to 8pm (last admission 7pm). Winter opening times From 1 October to 31 March, 10am to 5.30pm (last admission at 4.30pm). Phone :
00 34 934 725 775 Metro/Bus :
Metro: Line 3, Liceu Station / Bus: 14, 59, 91, 120
Located in the historic district of El Raval, the Monastery of Sant Pau del Camp - founded in the 9th century - is one of the oldest monasteries in Catalonia and a jewel of Catalan Romanesque architecture. Its construction began at the end of the 9th century, replacing an earlier church destroyed by Muslim invaders in 985. Abandoned in the 19th century, but restored in the 20th century, it is now open to the public as a museum.
The Romanesque Collection of the Monastery of Sant Pau del Camp
The Monastery now houses a museum with exhibitions on the history of art, the history of Barcelona and religious life in Catalonia. Its fine collection includes archaeological pieces and religious art, including Romanesque sculptures, paintings and textiles.
The main reason for visiting this monastery is its portal, which is decorated with sculptures depicting biblical scenes and decorative motifs. The chapel of Sant Pau, decorated with frescoes from the 12th century depicting scenes from the life of Jesus and the apostles. For the 12th-century wooden cross of Sant Pau, considered one of the most beautiful works of Catalan Romanesque art. For the sculpture of the Virgin and Child, a polychrome stone sculpture dating from the 13th century. Finally, the murals and a collection of medieval textiles, including tapestries, banners and liturgical vestments will undoubtedly catch your attention.
The place is peaceful and perfect for contemplation... an extraordinary break in a bustling neighbourhood.
Address :
Carrer de Sant Pau, 99 Opening hours :
Monday to Saturday from 10am to 1.30pm and from 4pm to 7.30pm Phone :
+34 934 41 00 01 Metro/Bus :
Metro: L2, L3 Paral·lel
Combining straight lines and curves in a continuous dialogue between the interior spaces and the light outside, the building, inaugurated in 1995, is a work by Richard Meier. It's about what is more interesting in this museum. MACBA (Barcelona Contemporary Art Museum) is dedicated to works from the second half of the 20th century. There are few works in the permanent collection and once in a while interesting temporary exhibitions.
In1959 the art critic Alexandre Cirici Pellicer believed in the need to create a Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona.
Between 1960 and 1963, Cirici and Cesáreo Rodríguez Aguilera headed a group of individuals who began to put together a collection with the objective of constituting the basis for the future museum. In February 1963, the opening of the exhibition El arte y la paz, with a clear political commitment, exposed the narrow limits of what was then permissible.
In 1986 Barcelona City Council, invited the North American architect Richard Meier to take charge of the project for the new museum. The City Council's Department of Culture commissioned the art critics Francesc Miralles and Rosa Queralt to draw up a report which would serve to define the philosophy of the future museum. In 1987 the MACBA Foundation brought private enterprise into the project. The MACBA was officially inaugurated on the 28th of November of 1995.
CCCB The Barcelona Contemporary Culture Centre is a multidisciplinary institution which organizes exhibitions in particular on urbanism, music, dance, debates and readings. This place is commonly frequented by people from Barcelona offering an astonishing architecture.
The Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) organizes and produces exhibitions, debates, festivals and concerts, programmes film cycles, courses and lectures, and encourages creation using new technologies and languages.
It promotes artistic research in fields such as multimedia, backs research into exhibition formats, exports its in-house productions to other national and international arts centres, museums and institutions, and generates debate, thought and reflection on the theme of the city and the public domain, as well as other issues of current affairs.
The CCCB also compiles materials that are available for public consultation, comprising its inheritance, its holdings and archives of exhibition formats, publications, digital archives, audiovisuals, and so on. It is a space open to groups of independent artists, creators and programmers...
The Boqueria Market, one of the oldest markets in Barcelona, is no longer in the news, its name being mentioned as early as 1217. Criticized by some for being too crowded, adulated by others for the quality of its products and its small bars. It remains a must on Las Ramblas, a stone's throw from the Liceu and the Plaça de Catalunya.
The entrance porch, with its Art Nouveau stained glass window, is already an invitation to a gourmet journey. A dream that becomes reality in front of all the colourful stalls presented with great care by the many shopkeepers proud of their stands.
A visit to Boqueria Market in video:
What can you find in La Boqueria?
You can find everything in La Boqueria: fish, meat, sausages, spices, cheese, vegetables, fruit and fruit juices, pastries, flowers... Fresh and local products that appeal to restaurateurs and locals alike. Many Catalans come here to do their daily shopping. Even more people come to have breakfast or lunch because there are many restaurants, cafés, and tapas bars that have been established in La Boqueria for a long time (a dozen bars for example).
>> In total, La Boqueria has more than 300 stands. With its surface area of 2583 m², it is the largest market in Catalonia.
Tip: If you're travelling light, we suggest you simply buy some chillies, Jabugo, chorizo and a few pieces of cheese before you leave.
If you are hungry, take a break at El Quim bar, our favourite tapas bar.
What does Boqueria mean?
Boqueria (also known as La Boqueria) is the term for this market whose official name is "Mercat de Sant Josep". The name "Boqueria" is derived from the Catalan word "boc", which means "goat", and refers to the area where the market was originally established in the 13th century as a place for goat traders.
The history of the Boqueria market
The first mention of La Boqueria market in Barcelona dates from 1217, when tables were set up near the old city gate to sell meat. From December 1470 onwards, a market for the sale of pigs was held there. At that time, the market was called Mercat Bornet or (until 1794) simply known as Mercat de la Palla (Straw Market).
In the beginning, the market was not fenced in and had no official status; it was considered to be a simple extension of the Plaça Nova market, which then extended to the Plaça del Pi.
Later, the authorities decided to build a separate market on the Rambla, housing mainly fishmongers and butchers. It was not until 1826 that the market was legally recognised and a convention held in 1835 decided to build an official square. Work began on 19 March 1840 under the direction of the architect Mas Vilà. The market was officially opened the same year, but the plans for the building were modified several times. The official inauguration of the structure finally took place in 1853. In 1911 the new fish market was opened and in 1914 the metal roof that still exists today was built.
Whether you are looking for a family or a business stay or just for a weekend, we have selected for you the best hotels in the city to choose from. All categories at all prices. But also the bargains according to your travel dates. Have a good stay!
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2 comments
hospital de la creu - Marito(16 May 2016 - 11:46)
Yo también opino que las fotos no representan el antigüo hostipal de la creu!
la foto del Hospital de Sant Pau - Tana(22 Apr 2011 - 09:00)
Hola, La imagen escogida para el Hospital de Sant Pau del Raval no corresponde al edificio gótico. Me parece que se trata del Hospital modernista de Domenech i Montaner.
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2 comments
hospital de la creu - Marito (16 May 2016 - 11:46)
Yo también opino que las fotos no representan el antigüo hostipal de la creu!
la foto del Hospital de Sant Pau - Tana (22 Apr 2011 - 09:00)
Hola, La imagen escogida para el Hospital de Sant Pau del Raval no corresponde al edificio gótico. Me parece que se trata del Hospital modernista de Domenech i Montaner.